Machine for making bolts and the like



March 1, 1938. J. H. F RIEDMAN MACHINE FOR MAKING BOLTS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov.. 13, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN H'FR/EDMA/V attorney March 1, 1938. J. H. FRIEDMAN 2,109,918 MACHINE FOR MAKING BOLTS AND THE LIKE Filed NOV, 13, 1935 5 Sheets--Sheet 2 (Ittprneg March 1, 1938. J. H. FRIEDMAN 2,109,918

7 v MACHINE FDR MAKING BOLTS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZSnventor (Ittomeg I atented Mar. 1, 1938 onrNE FOR l John H. Friedman, 'lifiin, Ohio, assignor to The National Machinery Company, Tizi m corporation of Ohio Ohio, at

Application November 13, 1935, Serial No. 49,477

25 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to machines for making bolts, screws, and like headed'articles,

such for example as the machine disclosed in the patent to Frost, No. 2,020,658, November '12, 1935, and is particularly concerned with new and improved blank handling and feeding mechanism for such machines.

In blank feeding mechanisms embodying an inclined track or chute which delivers blanks to a flat horizontal plate or feeding position upon which the blanks are moved by pushers, there is always a tendency for blanks to stick or jam in the angle between the inclined and horizontal portions of the track before the foremost blank reaches a position to be engaged by the pusher. To prevent this it iscustomary to permit a series of blanks to build up in the inclined portion of the track so that their weight presses the foremost blank into alignment with the pusher. This construction however is also objectionable in that it permits the head of one blank to get on top of the next succeeding blank and in many cases to jam the track.

An object of the invention is to provide in machines of the above mentioned type improved means for automatically effecting the positive advance of headed blanks from one portion of the track to another and to coordinate with such means a fabricating means such as for instance roll threading dies.

Another object of the invention is to'provide in bolt making and like. machines improved vertical adjusting means for a blank feeding mechanism to accommodate blanks of various lengths.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved blank track leading to a feeding mechanism according 1 to the foregoing objects which compensates for vertical adjustments of the feeding mechanism.

More specifically, it is a further object to provide a bolt blank track leading from a fixed point to a vertically adjustable roll threader track section which will automatically compensate for differences in distance between said fixed point and said track occasioned by adjustment of said roll threader track section.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bolt blank track between a pointermechanism and a vertically adjustable roll threader feed mechanism wherein the track has oppositely inclined portions, one portion changing its inclination and the other retaining its original inclination upon adjustment of the roll threader feed mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide in bolt making and like machines an improved bolt blank aligning abutment carried by'a thread rolling die which is adapted to extend into the space between the dies and cooperate with a pusher therein to accurately align and hold bolt blanks in alignment at the initiation of the thread rolling process.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of a bolt making machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank feeding mechanism applied to a track conducting headed blanks to roll threading dies;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the blank feeding mechanism with parts broken away;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are partial plan views of the blank feedingmeehanism illustrating the positions of the parts at different stages of blank movement;

Figure 7 is an elevation of the blank feeding mechanism and track leading thereto from a pointer mechanism; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 7.

For the purpose of illustration the blank feeding mechanism is shown as applied to a bolt making machine of the type disclosed in the patent above noted, it being understood that it could be used with other types of machines for manufacturing headed articles which embody parts adaptable for operative association with the present mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral l indicates generally the bed frame of the machine, in which a header slide 2 is mounted for longitudinal reciprocation through the medium of a crankshaft (not shown). The forward extremity of the bed frame is provided with a die breast which has mounted thereon a plurality of dies. sively worked in the dies and are then conducted through a pointer mechanism to a pair of roll threading dies t and 5 mounted at the rear end of the bolt making machine. Preferably one of the roll threading dies 5 is carried by the bed frame I and the other roll threading die l is mounted in a movable slide 3 carried by theheader slide 2.

The foregoing parts are common tomachines of this type and their operation is well understood by those having a knowledge of the art;

I have attained the objects and advantages outlined by providing in a machine of the type referred to, a novel blank feeding mechanism Bolt blanks are succeswhich is vertically adjustable with respect to horizontally reciprocating roll threading dies and providing a track between said blank feeding mechanism and a pointer mechanism mounted on the bed frame of the machine. Since in machines of the type referred to the blanks are discharged from the pointer mechanism at a relatively fixed point on the bed frame of the machine and since vertical adjustment of the roll threading feed mechanism changes the distance between the feed mechanism and the pointer discharge, it is necessary that the track between the two points be'constructed to accommodate adjustment of the roll threader feed mechanism.

Generally speaking, the track which I have provided between the roll threader feed mechanism and the pointer discharge comprises two sections l and la, the former being integrally formed or attached to the roll threader feed mechanism and the latter pivoted to the pointer discharge track. This arrangement provides that the section I0 retain its inclination with respect to the feed mechanism irrespective of the vertical adjustment of the feed mechanism and that the section Illa is supported at one end by section l0 and therefore has a variable inclination depending on the vertical adjustment of section II]. The section l0 and blank feeding mechanism vertically adjustable therewith is supported with respect to the bed frame by means of an adjusting bracket 1 which is provided with a vertical groove l receiving a complementary tongue carried by the track section In (see Figures 2 and 3). The groove in the bracket 1 is preferably formed with sloping side walls to obviate any tendency of the track to tilt in the groove and the bottom of the groove is slotted as at It to receive a bolt or cap screw threaded into the section II]. An; internally threaded carrier block is mounted on the bolt H" and receives the threaded shank of an adjusting screw' ll rotatably mounted on top of bracket 1. A loosening of the bolt II will release any binding in the tongue and groove at 5 and rotation of the journalled adjusting screw ll will raise and lower the section It! including the track and certain portions of the blank feeder mechanism carried thereby. Subsequent to adjustment of this section the bolt H may be tightened to secure the track and feeder mechanism in position for operation.

The blank track It is slotted in the usual manner to support the bolt blanks by their heads and thus the bolts are vertically disposed for horizontal movement into a position between the roll threading dies 4 and 5. The forward lower end of the track adjacent the threading dies is preferably slotted as at I! to receive a nose plate l3 which projects laterally beyond the end of the track and in efiect forms a horizontal extension of the blank track. The nose plate it is removably secured to the blank track casting by means of set screws H1 or other suitably yielding conection means in order to provide a safety release for any blanks that might become lodged between the die parts of the blank feeding mechanism. The guard 66 which overhangs the blank track section I ll maintains the orderly descent of the blanks and prevents any overlapping of the heads of the blanks as they are red down the track and out on to the nose plate IS. The end of the guard 66 adjacent the roll threading dies is tapered or rounded slightly (see Figure 3) so as to maintainthe underside of the head of the blank against the nose plate and in proper threading position as the blank is being advanced by the feed mechanism.

The blank feeding mechanism employed to move the bolt blanks from the lower end of the inclined track and out onto the extension l3 comprises generally three associated pusher members or fingers 20, 30 and 40. The first of the pusher fingers to engage a bolt blank as it is being fed into the roll threading dies is the pusher finger 20 which is mounted in and is vertically adjustable with the blank track Ill. The second pusher finger 30 is separately supported by a bracket 29 which is vertically adjustable with respect to the bed frame as at 8, said last named adjusting device being substantially like the adjusting means heretofore described in connection with the adjustment of the blank track casting Ill. The third pusher member or main pusher 40 is arranged in the plane between the roll threading dies and moves a bolt 1 blank heretofore controlled by pushers 20 and 30 into a blank rolling position between the dies. All of said pushers are movable with respect to each other and are actuated in timed relation to each other and with the roll threading mechanism. The angularity of the pushers with respect to each other and with respect to the path of the blanks along the track and into the roll threading dies permits each of the pushers to alternately advance and gate the blanks in their travel to the threading dies.

The pusher 20 is. arranged to reciprocate through a suitable aperture formed in the track casting I 0 at the lower end thereof and receives its reciprocating motion from a bell crank 2| pivotally mounted on said casting as at 24. An abutment or lug 23 carried by said bell crank is arranged to bear against a spring and plunger assembly 25 in a manner which constantly urges the bell crank in one direction (in a clockwise direction in the plan view of Figure 2). A round pin or cam member 22 depends from the underside of the bell crank and bears against a cam surface 35b carried by the oscillating actuating device 35 pivoted to bracket 1 and therefore nonadjustable.

The actuator member 35 comprises a generally U-shaped member with a bearing sleeve 33 at one side journalled on a pin 3! anchored to the bracket 1 and a vertical portion 32 slidably fitting in the notch 3| of the pusher 30. The bight portion of the -U-shaped member 35 is provided with surfaces 35a and 35b, the former having considerable vertical extent adapted to contact a spring and plunger assembly 38 carried in the blank track casting and the latter bearing against the depending pin 22 carried by the bell crank member 2|. The spring and plunger assembly 38 constantly urges the U- shaped member 35 about its axis in a clockwise direction and thus urges the pusher 30 towards the lower end of the blank track. Since the depending arm 22 tends to move the bell crank member 2i in clockwise direction through the engagement with the cam at 35b, the two spring assemblies act oppositely on the bell crank member 2!. The spring assembly 38 is designed to exert a greater actuating force than the spring assembly 25 and thus the spring assembly 25 becomes efiective to move the bell crank member 2i and pusher 20 only when the actuator 35 is moved counter-clockwise to relieve the arm 22 from engagement with 35b.

The bearing sleeve 33 of the U-shaped actuator 35 has formed thereon a pair of spaced vertiplunger assembly lid normally act to swing the U-shaped member clockwise about its pivot and thus the pusher it is held in its projected position as shown in Figure 4 except when the roller 3% is in engagement with. the cam it as shown in Figure 2, or when held by a gated blank as in Figure 4.

When the blank track it and the bracket it areadjusted vertically with respect to the frame brackets i and b respectively to accommodate various lengths of bolt blanks and threads, the iJ-shaped actuator it pivoted to bracket i remains'hxed vertically, The vbight portion of the bracket is extended vertically at the to provide an abutment for the spring and plunger 38 movable with the blank track and is extended laterally at it!) to provide a cam for the. dependingarm it of the bell crank member Eiwhich is also movable with the track it. The side portion it of the agtuator it is uniform in cross section throughout its vertical extent and operates in groove it to move the pusher it regardless of the relative vertical position of the parts. I.

' The third pusher to engage the bolt blanks in their advance to the roll threading dies and which actuates the other pushers is the member id arranged to reciprocate between the roll threading dies. The pusher db is secured to a bracket t which may be verticallyadjustable with respect to the frame in substantially the same manner as the bracket it and is carried by a block ii slidably mounted in a guideway thou the bed frame. -To actuate the block i i, it is reciprocated by a link db operatively moved by means of a cam geared to the main crankshaft of the bolt machine. The pusher it is thus timed with respect to the header slide movements and is arranged to advance the bolt blanks along the nose piece it and into position between the roll threading dies. at the initiation of the roll threading motion.

To cooperate with the pusher it in positioning the blzmksbetween the dies, an abutment member this provided on the movable die. The abutment ht consists of an angle member with one web thereof clamped between the end of the movable die and the wedge block holding the die in place. The other web of-the member bu overhangs a portion of the die face and thus projects into the path of the'bolt blank between the dies. The projecting web has a vertical extent corresponding to the vertical extent of the threads on the die and is adapted to engage one side of the shank of a bolt blank fed into the dies. The pusher it functions to move a bolt blank into engagement with the abutment W and cooperate therewith to firmly grip the blank and vertically align the blank during the first part of the thread rolling operation. The provision of the abutment at in conjunction with the pusher db obviates the danger of blank misalignment and thus contributes greatly tothe uniformity of product and speed at which the-machine may be operated. Without such an abutment a certain interval of time would be required between the feeding of the blank and the thread rolling to accommodate the swaying of the blank imparted by the action of the feeding mechanism. It would not be safe to start the thread rolling'until the swaying" had subsided. I

' Fl e 2 illustrates theposition of the pushers at" the header slide approaches the full extent of its receding movement with respect to the 'die breast, The cam it as shownhas engaged the roller 36 and against the action of the spring and plunger it has rotated the LI-shaped actuator 3% counterclockwise and withdrawn the pusher it from its gating position in the blank track. The counterclockwise movement of the actuator 35 has permitted the spring and plunger assembly 25 to function to turn the bell crank member 2i counter-clockwise and thus move the pusher 2G forward. The double function of the forward movement of pusher it is to advance a bolt blank B into the path of pusher it and to gate the bolt blank B on-the inclined portion of the blank track. Thebolt blank B is gated from alignment with the threading dies by the pusher it.

As the header slide moves back from the position shown in Figure 2, the parts assume the position shown in Figure 4. Although the cam d5 no longer bears against the roller 36 the pusher 3b is held to a limited extent in its retracted position by reason of the bolt blank B which remains gated by the pusher. it. The partially retracted position of pusher tt'through spring assembly 25 holds the pusher it in gating position. The blank B is shown in Figure 5 as advanced into the path of the threading dies. The pusher it is withdrawn from a gating positio as the header slide moves toward the forwar end of thebed frame. The spring pressed pusher dd advances the bolt blank 18 and the depending pin it on the bell crank member ii is moved through the cam dbl) on the U-shaped member db in'a clockwise direction to effect a compression of the spring and plunger assembly it. As the member if is moved in a clockwise direction the pusher tilt is withdrawn from gating position and the bolt blank B is advanced to engage the pusher dd which is now in a gating position.

As the header slide starts a thread rolling operation, the pusher finger it moves the bolt blank B into a position between the dies d and t and into engagement with the abutment 50 asshown in Figure 5. This moves the pusher til into a gating position where it remains until the thread rolling operation is completed on bolt blank B The pusher it follows the blank into the path between the dies to insure alignment of the blank during the first part of the thread rolling operation. The bolt blank B is then advanced to the The belt blanksare also guided into proper alignment with the threading dies by reason of the nose plate it which supports the bolt blanks by their heads while being advanced between the dies. Since the nose plate it supports the blank prior to its engagement with the abutment Ell any lateral cocking or tilting with respect to the abutment is prevented.

It is to be noted that the bolt blank B as'shown in Figure dis gated by the pusher ill and the bolt blank B is gated by the pusher 2b. The pusher it is thus in both a gating and apushing position and upon retraction of pusher til, the pusher it simultaneously advances the blank Btand gates the blank B In conjunction with the operation of the mechanism it will be observed that the gating efiect of one pusher may cooperate with the springs 25 and it to efiect a rapid spring responsive movement of another finger. An illustration of this is found in.

Figure 6 where the member 35 is moving counterclockwise. The bell crank 2i, however, is restrained from counter-clockwise movement therewith by reason of the gating action of pusher 30 on the blank B As soon as the member 35 has completed its counter-clockwise movement the pusher 30 is moved from its gating position and the pusher 20 snaps forward to advance the blank B in response to the spring 25. Another illustration of this snap action is found in Figure 4 where the pusher acts to gate the blank B At this time the cam on the slide has moved out of engagement with the roller on the member 35 and the member 35 is urged in a clockwise direction by the spring 38. As soon as the pusher 40 ceases to gate the blank B the pusher 30 snaps forward to advance the blank B into the path between the roll threading dies.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings; the headed blanks are transferred from a position on the blank track to a position upon a horizontal extension of the blank track where the blanks are engaged by a pusher and thereby advanced to a position between a pair of roll threading dies. It will be understood, however, that the blank feeding mechanism could be coordinated and arranged in relation to operations other than the roll threading operation and that blank feeding could be effected from one blank track to another track or one point on a blank track to another without interruption for fabricating purposes without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

To conduct the bolt blanks from a pointer,

adapted to slide freely upon the rounded end of the track in as at 62. Plates 63 are preferably secured to the outer surface of the track section Ma to prevent misalignment of the two track sections it and a. at their juncture. The curved complementary parts 62 and SI insure that the two track sections maintain a continuous supporting surface for the heads of the blanks at the junction between the two tracks and also compensate for the difference in distance between the pivot 60 and the feeder track it occasioned by vertical adjustment of the feeder track.

When the track section It! is in its lowermost position; that is, to feed bolt blanks which are to be threaded throughout the shank portion, there will be considerable overlapping at 6| and 62, whereas when the track It and associated feeder mechanism is raised to feed long bolts which are only threaded adjacent the end of the shank the curved part 6| will be supported only at the outer end of the curved part 62. A guard rail section (it is hinged through brackets 65 to the track section Ina and maintains a constant head space to preclude movement of one blank head upon the other. The track section If! is also preferably guarded in this respect by the rail 66 secured to track section IE3 as at 61.

From the foregoing it will appear that I have provided a track and feeder combination adapted to receive boltblanks ejected from a pointer or v other fabricating mechanism at a fixed point and conduct said blanks in an orderly manner and positively and rapidly feed same to a roll threading mechanism. The feed mechanism may be adjusted to various heights to accommodate different sizes and types of bolts and the novel track combined therewith automatically compensates for track length variations occasioned by said adjustments.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the blank feeding mechanism may be applied to blank tracks at other angles than that shown and may be advantageously employed where all the bolt blank movements are in the same plane. It will also be understood that important advantages other than those heretofore recited may be obtained by use of the present mechanism, and that the specific constructions shown and described to obtain'these advantages are not to be construed in the nature of limitations, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bolt making machine, a reciprocating header slide, a thread rolling die supported for relative longitudinal movement by said slide and a coacting relatively stationary thread rolling die, means having an operative connection with said slide and reciprocable die for reciprocating 'the latter, and a means for feeding bolt blanks to said dies comprising, a blank track having inclined and horizontal portions, a pair of spring pressed pusher fingers arranged at the junction between said inclined and horizontal portions to advance bolt blanks in sequence to the horizontal portions and a pusher arranged between said dies to advance bolt blanks from the horizontal portion therebetween.

2. In a bolt making machine, a reciprocating header slide, a thread rolling die supported for relative longitudinal movement by said slide and a coacting relatively stationary thread rolling die, means having an operative connection with said slide and reciprocable die for reciprocating the latter, and ameans for feeding bolt blanks to said dies comprising, an inclined bolt blank track terminating in a horizontal portion, a pusher finger adjacent the junction between the inclined and horizontal portions adapted to enter said track at an angle to advance bolt blanks between the pusher and the dies and to gate bolt blanks between the pusher and the inclined track.

3. In combination, a mechanism for pointing the shanks of a series of bolt blanks, a roll threading mechanism for rolling threads upon said series of blanks in the same consecutive order in which they are pointed, a track leading from said pointer mechanism to said roll threading mechanism comprising spaced parallel portions adapted to support bolt blanks by their heads, a blank feeding means mounted on said roll threading mechanism and vertically adjustable with respect thereto, one portion of said track vertically movable with said blank feeding means and another portion of said track fixed with respect to said blank feeding means.

4. In combination, a pointer mechanism having a discharge track and a roll threading mechanism having a vertically adjustable blank feeding means, an articulated track arranged between said two mechanisms, one end of said track fixed to said pointer mechanism and the other end of said track movable with said vertically adjustable blank feeding means, means intermediate the ends of said track to accommodate variations in track length occasioned by aioaaia ends of said articulated track to compensate for vertical adjustment of said blank feeding means. 5. In a blank feeding-mechanism, a track for headed bolt blanks comprising an inclined sec lid hit

till

tion, a horizontal section and a second horizontal section at an angle to the first horizontal section, a spring pressed reciprocating pusher finger entering said inclined track section at an angle thereto, a'second spring pressed reciprocating pusher ger movable along said first horizon section in the direction of its length, a third reciprocating pusher fingermovable along said second horizontal section in the direction of its mg In,

6. In a machine for making bolts, a winter mechanism having a discharge track ed with respect to the bed frame of said machine, a pair of roll threading dies, one die being secured to the bed frame of the machine and the other die arranged to reciprocate horizontally in the bed frame of the machine, means to feed headed bolt blanks into said roll threading dies and means to adjust said last mentioned means ver tically with respect to the bed ire of the mace to accommodate various lengths of bolt blanks, a 1 track arranged between said blank feeding means and said pointer discge track to lead bolt blanks suspended by their he from said pointer discharge track to said blank feeding means, means arranged intermediate the ends of said track to accommodate variations in track length between said pointer discharge track and said blank feeding means occasioned by vertical adjustment of said blank feeding means.

track for suspending blanks by their heads fined with respect to the bed frame of said mmhine, relatively reciprocable roll threading dies arranged in said machine and an inclined track section leading to said roll threading dies, means to adjust said inclined track section vertically and maintaining the inclination with respect to the roll threading dies to accommodate various lengths of bolt blanks, a track section singed intermediate said inclined. track and said horiu zontal track having one end pivoted to said horizontal track and the other end pivotally and slidably connected to said inclined track.

til

8. In a bolt blank feeding mechanism, a track for bolt blanks comprising a storage section, a Y

fabricatingsection and an intermediate section, a pair of spring pressed reciprocating pusher gers sequentially operated to advance bolt bla successively along said storage section and said "intermediate sections, and a reciprocating pusher 1" is to advance boltblanks foded thereto by said pair successively along said fabricating section.

'9. In combination, a pair of spaced fabricating mechanisms for performing diderent opera; tions upon bolt blanks, the first of said mechanisms having a horizontal discharge track for suspending the bolt blanks by their heads nib sequent to the working of the blank in that mechanism, an articulated track leading-fr said horizontal track to said second mechanism,

r with respect to said horizontal track and having an inclination which varies in response to vertical adjustments at theadjustable end'of said articulated track and means intermediate the spans P per gers to advance a blank, a second spring pressed as to move the second of the dlderences in track distance between said two mecnisms occasioned by vertical adiustment of the track adjacent the second race a named section and theother end pivoted adjacentone of said mecnisms.

ii. In a bolt blankfeeding mechanism, a track for bolt his, a plurality of reciprocating ,ttli ers arranged to enter said track and advance bolt blanks sequentially therealong, a

spring pressed member to move the first of said pusher fingers to advance a blank, a second spring pressed member to move the second of said pusher fingers to advance a blank, the force exerted by said second spring pressed member enceedi the force exerted by the first spring est member, an operative connection be tween said: two members to edect a movement of inn member in response to movement of said second member,- said second spring pressed member. moved against the action of its spring by a c to withdraw said second pusher finger from the blank track, said cam actuated movement of said member releasing the operative connection between the said two members to chest blank advancing movement of the first pusher finger in response to said first spring pred member.

it. In a bolt blank feeding mechanism, atrack ior bolt blanks, a plurality of reciprocating pusher fingers arranged to-enter said track and vance bolt blanks sequentially therealong, a ---L member to move the first of said said pusher fiers to advance a blank, the force enerted by t1 second spring pressed member erceeding the force exerted by the first spring pred member, an operative connection between id two members to edect a movement of said first member in response to movement of said-second member, said second spring pressed membermoved ainst the action of its spring by a cam to withdraw said second pusher finger from the blank track, said cam actuated movement of said member releasing the operative connection between the said two members to efiect blankadvancing movement of the first pusher er in response to said first spring pressed member, a third pusher finger arranged in said track between said first mentioned spring actuated pitchers and a bolt blank fabricating device.

it. In a bolt mng machine, a reciprocating header slide, a thread rolling die supported for relative longitudinal movement by said slide and v a enacting relatively stationary thread rolling die, eans having an operative connection with said slide and reciprocable die for reciprocating the tter, and a means for feeding bolt blanks to said diescomprising, a track for bolt bl, a plut'y of reciprocating pusher fingers arranged to enter d track and advance bolt blanks sequentherealong, a spring pressed member to move thefirst of said pusher fingers to advance a blank, a second spring pressed member to move the second of said pusher fingers to advance a blank, the force exerted by said second spring pressed member cee the lcrce exerted by it. A track for guiding bolt blanks from one adjustable and having a constant- 6 aroaors the first spring pressed member, an operative connection between said two members to effect a movement of said first member in response to movement of said second member, said second spring pressed member moved against the action of its spring by a cam to withdraw said second pusher finger from the blank track, said cam actuated movement of said member releasing the operative connection between the said two members to efiect blank advancing movement of. the first pusher finger in response to said first spring pressed member, a cam carried by said header slide arranged to engage said second spring pressed member to effect a withdrawal of said second pusher finger at each cycle of header slide movement.

14. In a bolt making machine, a reciprocating header slide, a thread rolling die supported for relative longitudinal movement by said slide and a coacting relatively stationary thread rolling die, means having an operative connection with said slide and reciprocable die for reciprocating the latter, and a means for feeding bolt blanks to said dies comprising, a track for bolt blanks, a pair of operatively connected spring pressed reciprocating pusher fingers arranged to enter said track and advance bolt blanks therealong, means connected to one of said pusher fingers, means carried by said header slide and arranged to engage said first named means upon reciprocation of the header slide to effect actuation of sai pusher fingers.

15. In a bolt making machine, a blank feeding mechanism, a bolt blank track member supported by said machine for vertical adjustment, a pusher finger carried by said track member to enter the path of bolt blanks and advance bolt blanks therealong, a second pusher finger mounted on said machine in a supporting bracket, said bracket vertically adjustable with respect to said machine and with respect to said track member.

16. In a bolt making machine, a blank feeding mechanism, a bolt blank track member supported by said machine for vertical adjustment, a pusher finger carried by said track member to enter the path of bolt blanks and advance bolt blanks therealong, a second pusher finger mounted on said machine in a supporting bracket, said bracket vertically adjustable with respect to said machine and with respect to said track member, and a pair of springs mounted in said track member, each spring operatively engaged with an actuator means for one of the pusher fingers.

17. Ina blank feeding mechanism, a storage track for blanks, a fabricating device, three reciprocating pusher fingers arranged between the storage track and the fabricator to advance bolt blanks to the fabricator, the first pusher finger disposed adjacent the stored blanks, thethird pusher finger disposed adjacent the fabricator and the second pusher finger disposed intermediate the first and third, means to retract the second pusher finger during the advance of the first and third pushers, the third pusher gating a blank advanced by the first pusher.

18. In a blank feedingmechanism, a track for storage of bolt blanks, a pusher for said track, a fabricator adjacent said track, a pusher for said fabricator, an intermediate pusher between said track pusher and said fabricator pusher, the side portions of said pushers gating blanks simultaneously as the end portions advance blanks towards said fabricator.

- 19. In a machine for making bolts, a pointer mechanism for pointing the ends of. the shanks of a series of bolt blanks, a roll threader mechanism spaced from said pointer and a track arranged between said pointer and roll threader to conduct the blanks from the pointer to the threader in sequence, said track comprising spaced rails for suspending the bolt blanks by their heads therebetween, said track having a pair of oppositely inclined sections whereby the inclined track section adjacent the pointer is filled with blanks before a blank has moved over the point of opposite inclination and the inclined section near the roll threader serves to accommodate and store the excess blanks in event that there is a variation between the number of blanks pointed and the number of blanks threaded over a period of time.

20. In a bolt blank feeding mechanism, a track for bolt blanks, a plurality of reciprocating pusher fingers arranged to enter said track and advance bolt blanks sequentially therealong, spring means normally urging the first of said pusher fingers forwardly into said blank track in a position to advance a blank, a second spring means normally urging the second of said pusher fingers into said blank track to advance a blank, the force normally exerted by one of said spring means exceeding the force exerted by the other and means connecting said first and second pusher fingers whereby forward movement of one finger in response to its spring means moves the other finger in a direction to overcome the spring means thereof and thereby effect a withdrawing movement of said other pusher finger.

21. In combination, a reciprocating roll threader, a blank feeding mechanism for said roll threader comprising a blank track terminating adjacent said roll threading dies arranged to suspend bolt blanks by their heads between said dies and a blank storage track arranged at an inclination with respect to said first named track, said storage track comprising spaced rails to support bolt blanks by their heads and a guard overhanging said spaced rails to engage the heads of the blanks and guide the blanks therealong, a pusher finger reciprocating in timed relation to said roll threader arranged to enter said inclined track section adjacent its juncture with said first mentioned track section and advance bolt blanks into said juncture, the portion of said guard adjacent said juncture being tapered to guide the heads of the bolt blanks across said juncture and into proper thread rolling position in said first mentioned track.

22. In a roll threading mechanism, a pair of reciprocating roll threading dies, a blank feeding mechanism comprising a main pusher arranged to reciprocate in the path of the bolt blank between said roll threading dies, a blank feeding track terminating along one side of said main pusher and being gated through the major portion of the roll threading cycle by said pusher, a pair of spring pressed feeding pushers arranged to enter said blank feeding track and resiliently urge bolt blanks therealong against said main pusher.

23. In a roll threading mechanism for headed bolt blanks, a track for bolt blanks comprising spaced portions for suspending the bolt blanks by their heads, said track terminating between the roll threading dies, a reciprocating main pusher finger arranged between the roll threading dies and normally gating the end portion of the track to prevent movement of bolt bla'nks into the end of the track during the major portion of the roll threading cycle, said main pusher operative to withdraw from its gating position and permit a bolt blank to reach the terminus of the track at the initiation of a thread rolling cycle, a pair of feeder fingers arranged to enter said track and successively advance bolt blanks therealong, one of said feeder fingers resiliently pressing a bolt blank against said main pusher when said main pusher is in its gating position and the other of said feeder fingers gating the remaining blanks in said track during the gating of said first named blank bysaid main pusher.

24. In a roll threading mechanism, a pair of reciprocating roll threading dies, a blank feeding track terminating in the path between said roll threading dies, a member movable with one of said roll threading dies and positioned thereby adjacent the endpf'said blank feeding track at the initiation of a roll threading stroke, a, main pusher arranged between said roll threading dies in alignment with said last named member arranged to move away from said member and permit the advance of a bolt blank along said track and into position between said member and said pusher, reciprocating feed means arranged to enter said track adjacent the terminus thereof to feed bolt blanks into position between said main pusher and said member, said main pusher moving with respect to said member and clamping a bolt blank between said pusher and member during the initiation of a roll threading stroke.

25. A track for guiding bolt blanks from one fabricating mechanism to another comprising a pair of articulated sections, one track section being vertically adjustable and having a constant inclination, the other track section having one end thereof pivotally and slidably supported to accommodate the variations in track length occasioned by vertical adjustment of said vertically adjustable section and the other end of said other track section being pivotally mounted to accommodate the angular variations thereof occasioned by adjustment of said inclined track section.

JOHN H. FRIEDMAN. 

